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De Blasio: City To Provide Housing For Victims Displaced By East Harlem Blast

March 14, 2014 2:16 PM

Aisha Wyatts (R), applies for assistance at an American Red Cross disaster relief center at 125th St. and 3rd Avenue a day after an explosion in East Harlem on March 13, 2014. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

De Blasio: City To Provide Housing For Victims Displaced By East Harlem Blast

1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reports

The Real Estate Board is arranging for more apartments on the East Side. Those will be available for up to three months.

The city also is working with the New York State Association for Affordable Housing and the YMCA to house displaced individuals.

“I am so deeply grateful to all the partners who have stepped forward to help these families through crisis,” de Blasio said. “It’s a testament to the compassion of New Yorkers.”

In addition to the two buildings that collapsed in the blast, residents were forced to evacuate from 91 apartments in four surrounding buildings because of damage and safety concerns at the site, de Blasio said.

The mayor said some people will only need to be housed a few days. Others will need help for several months and some will require a permanent new solution.